April 2015
Sunday April 19
Winter aconites in the back yard rock garden
Good news! Although it has been a long time coming, spring is finally here and our aconites are back to prove it (only about six weeks late). We have had a gorgeous weekend with temperatures solidly above zero if not quite reaching the double digits. That has led to a marked reduction in snow so we can, at last, park on the side of the street, ride our bikes, walk on bare sidewalks and enjoy the flowers that are beginning to emerge from flower beds around the neighbourhood.
This afternoon, James played with the Studio A Jazz Band at their annual gig at Monte's Bar and Grill on Waverley Road. They played two sets while the Studio B Jazz Band contributed one. Both bands were in good form and the place was packed. The show was capped off with pies in the face for the two band leaders, Jill and Patrick, a fund raiser for the Dartmouth Band Parents Association.
Sunday April 12
The trail into Monterosso al Mare
I know that you are all getting sick of pictures of snow, so here is another one from my trip to Italy last month. This is the trail between Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare as it approaches the latter. As you can see, this part of the trail is pretty benign; we have already come over the more arduous bits.
This afternoon we went to a birthday party for Ingrid's mum, Maiga, at a common room at the apartment complex where she lives. Of course, Ingrid, Mike and Alex were there, but most of the rest of her family, who are spread out across the world, could not be. However, there was a good turn-out from Ingrid's extended family (including us) and the local Latvian community as well as new friends that Maiga has made since moving here a couple of years ago.
Ann was at a diabetes care conference on Thursday and Friday, held at the Westin hotel near the Halifax train station. She attended the lectures and also helped out with the registration and making sure that the speakers adhere to the schedule. She learned a lot and now has a renewed commitment to eating well and getting enough exercise.
Tuesday April 7
The waterfront on Easter morning
Last Tuesday, Ann and I went to see James performing with the Studio A Jazz Band at Prince Andrew High School. This is an annual affair with the main participants being Grade 6 bands from various elementary schools around town. The Junior Concert Band (mainly Grade 7s) plays as well as one of the senior bands; they are intended to entice the Grade 6 students into the All-City music program by showing them how well they will learn how to play. I thought the Jazz Band sounded pretty good but James was not happy with the performance.
We have had a fairly busy Easter weekend but not without some down-time to catch up on some reading. It started on Thursday evening with Ann hosting the annual Christian Seder supper for the church's Christian Development Committee and their families. Twelve people came in all with Mark supplying roast lamb and Ann making roast chicken thighs and veggies. In the end there was far too much food; we'll be dealing with the left-overs for a couple of weeks. I had to go to a meeting, so I missed the first part of the festivities but arrived as the eating was beginning in earnest.
Easter dinner
On Sunday morning, as is our custom, we went to the short early Easter service on the Dartmouth waterfront by the ferry terminal. It was a beautiful morning but quite cold with a chilling wind. Everyone was happy to return to the church basement for eggs, pancakes and sausages for breakfast. James and I went home afterwards but Ann stayed to serve communion at the main service at 11 o'clock.
Ingrid and Mike have hosted Easter dinner for the past few years, but this year we offered as Ingrid has been very busy lately. It was comparatively small this year with only ten of us: ourselves, Jim and Valerie, Jocelyn, and Ingrid, Mike, Alex and Maiga. Ingrid and Mike brought a ham, Valerie brought some macaroni and cheese, and Ann made scalloped potatoes, veggies and a carrot cake. More left-overs!